Cape Henry Collegiate announced that Justyce Swango Melendez, an assistant coach for the last two seasons, will be the head coach for the Dolphins’ girls, succeeding Lance Hurdle.

Melendez played for two Princess Anne state championship teams before competing for Georgetown and Lenoir-Rhyne, where she served as a team captain and earned her bachelor’s degree in business marketing.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

JMU’s Dobbs nominated for Good Works Team

James Madison linebacker Jacob Dobbs was named a nominee for the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, as announced by Allstate and the Wuerffel Foundation.

Dobbs joined the Dukes in January after a stellar five-year career for Holy Cross, in which he started all 43 games and was a two-time FCS first-team All-American. His 432 tackles were the most in Holy Cross history.

BASEBALL

Pilots sweep doubleheader in regular-season home finale

The Peninsula Pilots closed their regular-season home schedule in fine fashion Friday night, pounding Tri-City 10-5, 14-2 in a doubleheader before 3,578 at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton.

The Pilots (34-12) will finish the regular season Saturday night at Morehead City before returning Sunday for Game 1 of a best-of-three Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup semifinal series against the Wilmington Sharks.

Peninsula won the East Division’s first-half title on the last possible day to clinch a playoff berth, then ran away with the second-half championship. The Sharks (26-18) have clinched the division’s second-best overall record and thus will face the Pilots.

In Game 1, Carlos Pena was 2 for 2 with a home run and four RBIs, Jevin Relaford was 2 for 4 and scored twice, Grayson Fitzwater scored three runs, and Henry Garcia was 2 for 4 with a run and three RBIs.

Seven Peninsula pitchers threw an inning apiece. Brian Ereu, Darrell Fletcher-Knight, Olvis Genao and Dylan Morrill shut out the Chili Peppers in their innings.

In Game 2, seven Pilots — Cole Koonce, Marcus Dux, Mitchell Wittkamp, Nate Varnier, Jacob Flicek, Gardner Meeks and Caden Plummer — combined to pitch a two-hitter and survived seven walks. Wittkamp, who struck out all three batters he faced, gained the victory.

The Chili Peppers (18-29) went ahead 1-0 in the first inning, but Peninsula went ahead to stay with a four-run second and took a 12-2 lead in the fifth.

The Pilots had 18 hits, including a home run by Fitzwater and a double by Trey Morgan, who was 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs. Relaford was 4 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs, Corbin Shaw was 4 for 5 with four RBIs and a run, Fitzwater and Jorsixt Jimenez each had two hits, two runs and two RBIs, and Luis Delacruz was 2 for 2 with a run.

COLLEGE TENNIS

ODU, NSU players gain academic honors

Six Old Dominion women’s players, four men’s players and both teams as a whole were recognized as 2023-24 Division I Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athletes.

Alexandra Viktorovitch, Allison Isaacs, Lidiia Rasskouskaia, Maury High graduate Mya Byrd, Sofia Johnson and Victoria Matasova all had grade-point averages of 3.5 or better on the women’s squad. Aryan Saleh, Jakob Cadonau, Maxime Mareschal-Hay and Thomas Nelson accomplished that on the men’s team.

The Norfolk State men’s and women’s squads also earned team academic honors.

Amber Fuller, Irina Iurea, Laura Ruiz and Sabina Iurea were the women’s ITA Scholar-Athletes, while Antoni Pankowski, Boris Lunin and Jakub Solarski earned the accolades on the men’s side.

COLLEGE WOMEN’S GOLF

ODU reveals schedule

Old Dominion announced its schedule, which will include four fall tournaments, beginning with Purdue’s Boilermaker Classic Sept.2-3.
ODU will host the fourth annual Evie Odom Invitational on Oct. 4-6 at Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.

The Monarchs will play five spring tournaments before the Sun Belt Championship at Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear, Alabama, from April 14-17.

HOCKEY

Admirals bring back McLean, Iverson

The Norfolk Admirals re-signed defenseman Andrew McLean for the 2024-25 season. The 29-year-old Waterford, Michigan, native had eight goals, 25 assists and a plus-19 rating in 65 games last season.

Earlier this week, the Admirals re-signed forward Keegan Iverson for the 2024-25 season. The Minneapolis native had six goals, five assists and a career-high 169 penalty minutes for them last season. Coach Jeff Carr called Iverson “a major piece of our leadership group” in a team release.

BASKETBALL

7 Cities Pro-Am tourney bracket set

Six teams are in the bracket for the Hampton Roads 7 Cities Pro-Am Basketball League’s one-day championship tournament Sunday at Norview High in Norfolk.

The first round will feature NewRunz against ECG at 11 a.m., followed by Team Brown against Harvey Lindsay at 12:30.

In the semifinals, First Class Real Estate will meet Sunday’s first victor at 1:45 p.m., followed by the Tidewater Wildcats against Sunday’s second winner at 3. The championship game is planned for 4:15.

VIRGINIA BEACH — Ron Jenkins coached many athletes over his 30 years in Virginia Beach.

He loved them all. But there are some he considers his son.

Mario Mullen was one of those kids.

So when Jenkins received a phone call Friday from Mullen’s brother to inform him that Mullen had died, he was stunned and heartbroken.

“Anytime you lose a kid who you taught and coached, it’s a hard pill,” Jenkins said. “But this one has a little more impact because I did so much with him. Mario is a big part of the Bayside family and he’s going to be truly missed. I give all my condolences to his mother, his wife and his children.”

Mullen, who was 50, had suffered a severe illness, but Jenkins thought he was getting better.

When Mullen’s brother called Jenkins on Friday, he thought it was going to be good news.

“I had talked to his brother and his mother and they said he had been making some improvement,” Jenkins said. “I got immediately optimistic about what I was hearing and that they may move him from ICU and put him into a rehab center. But then Friday night his brother was in tears. I’m thinking he was calling me to tell me they found a place, but he called to say Mario passed. It’s just a sad, sad day.”

Jenkins first heard about Mullen when he was in middle school. Back in those days, eighth and ninth grade were together at Bayside Junior.

“I kind of followed him from that time on. I could see then that there was a considerable amount of the athleticism about him, especially playing in the post area,” Jenkins said. “He came over to us as a sophomore, and he was immediately an impact for us. He just had a knack for playing inside the post.”

In his junior year, Mullen helped lead the Marlins to back-to-back state titles in 1990 and 1991, and was named the Group AAA Player of the Year in 1991.

He went to Old Dominion, where he was a four-year starter and played alongside current Monarchs coach Mike Jones and assistant Odell Hodge.

He earned All-Colonial Athletic Association freshman honors. In 1995, he had 16 points and 10 rebounds to help the Monarchs upset third-seeded Villanova in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his college career.

Mullen became a special education teacher in Hampton Roads, including at Maury High, where he also coached the junior-varsity team.

When Ocean Lakes High had a head coaching opening in 2020, Mullen applied.

“He got me to write him a letter of recommendation, and I did. And he got the job,” Jenkins said. “I wasn’t shocked. A lot of people who were good players don’t go into coaching because it’s hard to get people to play like them. But he did, and we shared a lot of ideas. I went to a lot of his games.”

Jenkins warned Mullen that taking over a struggling program can be difficult, as Jenkins learned firsthand at Bayside.

“I told him that he would have to weather those storms and have tough skin. Eventually, if you keep pushing your program, you’re going to be just like me,” he told Mullen. “You just have to have patience and don’t become despaired. You got to work hard at it, you can’t give up. And he showed that fortitude and he was determined that he was going to make it better.”

Ocean Lakes struggled in Mullen’s three seasons, but he never gave up hope of being able to turn the program around.

Former First Colonial coach Mark Butts remembers Mullen well.

“I got to know him as a friend in my last few years of coaching,” Butts said. “I coached against him when he played in junior high and high school.”

Recently, Mullen asked Butts, who is an artist, to talk to his son about art.

“He was going to art school and wanted to start doing shows,” Butts said. “In talking to his son, you could tell what type of man and father Mario was. This one really hurts.”

Jenkins, who stepped away from coaching in 2002, said he and Mullen shared something in common when both of their fathers were sick at the same time. Mullen’s father had an enlarged heart and was passing away. Jenkins’ father had stage IV lung cancer.

“One thing his father told me before I passed, and I’ll never forget this, he looked at me and said, ‘Coach Jenkins, take care of my boy,'” Jenkins said. “And I tried to adhere to that ever since. He always has been like a son to me. I’m just thankful that I had an opportunity to coach him. If I had 15 players like him every year, I’d still be coaching.”

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, after whom Bethel’s gym is named, and former Olympic gold-medal runner Francena McCorory are among the most recognizable names. So is Dennis Kozlowski, who coached Bethel to football and track glory since the school opened.

Also named: former pro golfer Skeeter Heath, former Tennessee Volunteers and NFL defensive end Todd Kelly, wrestler Stephen Forbes, Iverson’s basketball teammate Tony Rutland, football player Michael Dunn, coaches Mike Bailey and Eddie Williams, and contributor Liberty Baptist Church.

The induction is set for 2 p.m. Aug. 31 at a site to be announced. Area sportscaster Craig Loper will be the emcee.

Aug. 30, when Bethel plays Nansemond River in football at 7 p.m., is the Alumni Night of Champions. All championship-team alumni are asked to participate and be part of halftime activities.

In a release, Bethel athletic director DeRocke Croom — who used to compete against Kozlowski’s teams as a Hampton Crabbers quarterback — said, “We want to recognize as many as we can in the coming induction years. This is long overdue and we want to recognize all good things within our school, which includes athletics.”

On Thursday, many of the top high school players in the country were in the Bethel High gym named after Iverson to display their one-on-one, 3-point shooting and dunk skills in what were called “The Iverson Games.” And, to be sure, the dunk prowess of Isaiah Abraham, who will play next season for NCAA champion Connecticut, and the 3-point shooting skills of Gicarri Harris, signed by national runner-up Purdue, drew huge applause.

But the biggest buzz of the night came when Iverson walked into the Allen Iverson Gymnasium.

“I’m never washing my hair again,”  a boy, who looked to be about 10, told his friends because Iverson had touched his head.

Iverson’s effect on the all-stars in his game is similar, although none were born when he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals. Among them is Carter Bryant, a 6-foot-8 forward from California who will play for Arizona next season.

Jai Manselle, who co-founded the Allen Iverson Classic six years ago, feels Bryant possesses as much star potential as any of the 24 players in Saturday’s game, which tips off at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Coliseum.

“Carter Bryant is unbelievable,” Manselle said. “From an athleticism standpoint, I would not be surprised if he has more upside than anybody in this game.”

Bryant said Iverson’s legacy is huge on players of his generation.

“He was a person who made it possible for us to do a lot of things,” Bryant said. “A lot of younger guys now are trying to have tattoos, and things of that nature, and wearing their jewelry everywhere, whether that’s a chain or earrings or hats.

“He was the person that made that OK. The legacy and imprint that he’s put on the game is never going to be taken away.”

Following the Iverson Classic, Bryant enters a college landscape vastly different than the one Iverson entered as a Georgetown University freshman 30 years ago. Few side perks came with a college basketball scholarship back then and players were required to sit out a season if they transferred schools.

Bryant will receive NIL (name, image and likeness) money for playing at Arizona and his freedom of movement from NCAA school to school, without having to sit out any time, is virtually unlimited.

“There’s a lot of things that can affect you because of NIL and the transfer portal, but especially the NIL,” Bryant said. “A lot of guys know they’re not going to have as long a career in the NBA, so they try to extend their money as long as they can in the college game.

“Hats off because that’s a great opportunity for them. But it’s hard because guys like me and other freshmen want to show our capabilities, be able to play and, God willing, take ourselves to the highest level.

“My biggest thing wasn’t always money. Gratefully, I’m going to get paid for things I do on and off the basketball court, but for me it’s about the love of the game and (money) didn’t play too much into my recruitment.”

Elijah Moore, a Syracuse recruit who made 13 3-pointers and 67 points in a high school game for his team in Long Island, New York, this season, said the transfer portal is a concern, but one he can handle.

“It’s pretty tough knowing guys are transferring, but I’m just preparing myself by staying in the gym and working day in and day out,” he said.

Like Bryant, Moore is thrilled to end his high school career in Iverson’s all-star game.

“I’m very honored to play under Allen Iverson, a great player and a great person,” Moore said. “He had a big influence on me growing up, seeing the things he’s done to change the game.”

Bryant said, “I’m so grateful because not everybody is picked to play in this game. It’s just 24 of us and that’s a beautiful thing.”

Marty O’Brien, mjobrien@dailypress.com

Allen Iverson Classic

What: Allen Iverson Classic All-American Game

Who: It features most of the top 15 boys high school basketball seniors in the country.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hampton Coliseum

Tickets: Iversonclassic.com

Iverson will bring what is arguably the biggest high school basketball game since that night in February 1993 to the Coliseum on Saturday. His Allen Iverson Classic All-American Game will draw almost all of the top 15 high school players to the Coliseum for a 7 p.m. game.

For those who want to see more of the nation’s top prep players, festivities begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bethel High in the gym named for Iverson. All will take part in The Iverson Games, which include dunk and 3-point shooting contests as well as a one-on-one tournament following the 24K all-star game that features players all ranked in the top 100 nationally.

The event is in its eighth year, but its first in Hampton Roads.

“It’s going to be incredible,” said Iverson Classic co-founder Jai Manselle, a Hampton Roads native. “This is something that means a lot for us because the City of Hampton and Hampton Roads are so instrumental in making us who we are.

“Having Allen Iverson’s name on the building for this game is unbelievable. What people need to be looking for is competition because the teams will have practiced together for three days and defense will be played in this game.

“What we haven’t seen yet is how these All-Americans compete against each other.”

Arguably the marquee name in the event is Duke recruit Cooper Flagg. The 6-9 forward from Maine was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year after reclassifying as a senior at Montverde Academy (Florida).

“It’s going to be really exciting to see him at the next level,” Manselle said, before comparing Flagg to Oklahoma City star Chet Holmgren, an Iverson Classic alum. “The conversations going around are the same as for Chet when he was in the game a couple of years ago.”

Also on hand will be Dylan Harper, a 6-5 point guard from Don Bosco in New Jersey, ranked No. 1 among seniors in the preseason by Lindy’s Sports. Manselle compares him to DJ Wagner, another New Jersey native, who started for Kentucky last season after earning Iverson Classic MVP honors a year ago.

“Dylan is cool to watch because he brings a different energy to basketball,” Manselle said. “Playing against that competition up there (New York/New Jersey) gives you an edge and makes you a better player faster.”

Manselle says another player to watch because he could shine in the NBA quickly is VJ Edgecombe. A 6-5 guard from Long Island Lutheran, Edgecombe will play in college at Baylor.

“VJ might have the biggest upside in terms of being built to go to the next level,” Manselle said.

The game features a celebrity aspect with Houston recruit Mercy Miller, whose father is rapper Master P.

Duke and Illinois each have three recruits in the game. Other colleges with recruits on the rosters include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Connecticut, Houston, Kansas, Miami, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Rutgers, South Carolina and Texas.

Manselle feels it’s the best collection of high school talent anywhere and should make for a great dunk contest Thursday and a great game Saturday.

“Our dunk contest has a great history,” Manselle said. “That was sort of the national debut for Mac McClung (the former Gate City High player who’s won the past two NBA All-Star dunk contests) against Kevin Porter Jr. (six years ago).

“This year’s dunk contest will be NBA-level and will bring the house down.”

Allen Iverson Classic

Thursday at Bethel High (6 p.m.): 24K Showcase Game; 1-on-1 tournament; dunk contest; 3-point shooting contest

Saturday at Hampton Coliseum (7 p.m.): Allen Iverson Classic All-American Game

Tickets: iversonclassic.com

They starred for Norfolk Collegiate School and then were teammates at Bryant University, a Division I school in Rhode Island.

Grant was floored this week when he learned the devastating news that Townes was killed in a single-tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 64 in Kentucky.

Asked how will he remember his friend, Grant paused and held back tears.

“That’s a hard one. But that was my brother,” he said. “We’ve known each other since I was 11. I stayed with him for four years in high school. After high school, we went straight to college. You’re talking about eight years, back to back. We’re so close. He’s family. He was someone I could trust. Someone I respected. Someone I looked up to, even though I’m 10 days older. He was humble. He was genuine. And he was loving.”

Television station WSAZ reported that Townes died Monday after a crash on the interstate.

Townes, who finished his high school career with 2,053 points, was a two-time All-Tidewater selection and was named all-state four times.

Grant, who was second-team All-Tidewater in 2016, had already committed to Bryant when the school’s coaches became interested in Townes.

“When I heard that, I had to try to keep my composure,” he said. “And I told them, ‘Don’t ask me because that’s my brother, but I don’t want him to make that decision because of me. I’m coming regardless, but take that up with Bash.'”

A few days later, Grant got a phone call from Townes.

“I was trying not to show too much excitement because he had other offers on the table. And I told him, ‘This is your decision, bro. You know where I stand,'” Grant said as he remembered the call and emotion filled his voice. “He called me back and said, ‘I’m riding with you, bro.’ When he said that, man, it was one of best moments of my life.”

The two were introduced by AAU coach Kip Sutton, now the head girls basketball coach at Deep Creek High. One of their teammates included current Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo.

Sutton said he spoke to Townes a few days before this week’s accident, and said he’d never forget when Townes and Grant surprised him last month at the Class 5 Region A championship game at Norfolk State.

His team had just lost to Princess Anne, and Sutton was feeling low.

“When we lost against Princess Anne at Norfolk State, I was down,” he said. “What brought me out of it, I saw Adam and Bash. I hadn’t seen them in a couple of months, so it really made me feel a lot better.”

Grant said he and Townes knew they had to support Sutton.

“We went there to pay homage to the guy who helped us meet,” he said. “He’s the reason we met and played together. He was a pivotal part of why were able to compete at such a high level and continue forward.”

Townes, Grant and Kyonze Chavis helped lead the Oaks to the TCIS Tournament title at Norfolk Collegiate.

“That was a special group, and (Townes) was the center of it all,” former Oaks coach Jim Markey said. “You teach players, and then you coach them. And then every once in a while, you get a player and you just coach that player, and let him teach you. That’s Bash Townes. He was a very special person to me.”

With a heavy heart, we share the news of the untimely passing of SaBastian (Bash) Townes, a 2020 Bryant graduate. He passed away from an accident.  A forward on the men's basketball team, Bash credited basketball for changing the course of his life and was a third-Team All-NEC… pic.twitter.com/lGMtwpZWO1

— Bryant University (@BryantUniv) April 17, 2024

At Bryant, Townes was selected third-team All-Northeast Conference as a junior. He averaged 15.1 points and 4.9 rebounds that season. The school said on social media that Townes graduated in 2020 with a degree in communications and a minor in management and psychology.

The last time Grant spoke to Townes was two weeks ago on FaceTime.

“He was telling me how he was going to take some time and enjoy himself and take a vacation,” Grant said. “It was supposed to start next week.”

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

Player of the Year

Silas Barksdale

Woodside, 6-11 junior center

• Scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds — including 10 offensive rebounds — to help the Wolverines (27-1) beat L.C. Bird to win their second consecutive Class 5 state title.

• Class 5 Player of the Year

• Class 5 Region B Player of the Year

• Peninsula District Player of the Year

• Averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds during the postseason

• Recorded 25 double-doubles this season

• Rated the No. 5 junior in the state by 247Sports and No. 7 by On3 and has more than 10 scholarship offers, including those from Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh

Rodney Baines 

Lake Taylor, 6-8 senior forward

• Helped lead the Titans (25-2) to the Class 3 state championship game

• First-team All-Class 3

• Class 3 Region A Player of the Year

• Eastern District Player of the Year

• Averaged 19 points, 11.3 rebounds and two blocks

• Has offers from Norfolk State and Hampton

Brennan Chatman

Norfolk Collegiate, 6-4 senior guard

• First-team All-VISAA Division II

• Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Player of the Year

• Averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals.

• Led the Oaks (31-5) to the TCIS regular-season and conference titles and to to the VISAA Division II state semifinals.

Malik Johnson

Hampton, 6-4 senior guard

• Had 10 rebounds, eight points, five assists and three steals to help lead the Crabbers (25-2) to the Class 4 state title

• Class 4 Player of the Year

• Class 4 Region A Player of the Year

• First-team All-Peninsula District

• Averaged 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.4 steals.

Deshawn Spellman

Landstown, 6-6 sophomore wing

• First-team All-Class 6

• First-team All-Class 6 Region A

• Led the Eagles to Class 6 state tournament

• Averaged 16 points, 14.3 rebounds, three blocks and two steals during the postseason, but missed the state quarterfinal because of the flu

• Has recorded nine double-doubles and recorded six blocks three times

Elijah Washington

Lake Taylor, 6-8 senior forward

• Led the Titans (25-2) to the Class 3 state championship game

• Two-time All-Tidewater selection

• First-team All-Class 3

• First-team All-Class 3 Region A

• First-team All-Eastern District

• Averaged 15 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks for the season, including a 28-point, 19-rebound performance in a state semifinal

• Named second-team All-Tidewater in football and will play tight end for Syracuse University.

Second team

Sincere Jones

Churchland, 6-8, junior forward

• First-team All-Class 4

• First-team All-Class 4 Region A

• Averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists while facing double- and triple-teams all season to lead the Truckers to the Class 4 state tournament

• Had 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in a Class 4 state quarterfinal

• Has offers from Virginia Tech, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Duquesne, Robert Morris, Radford, Virginia Commonwealth and Manhattan

EJ Joyner

Peninsula Catholic, 5-8 senior guard

• First-team All-VISAA Division II

• First-team All-Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools

• Led the Knights to the VISAA Division II state semifinals for the first time in program history

• Averaged 16 points, five assists, five rebounds and five steals

• Scored a school-record 40 points against Hampton Roads Academy

• Had 21 points and six assists to help the Knights hand Class 5 state champion Woodside its only loss of the season

• Scored 1,133 career points

Ben Nacey

Cox, 6-9 senior center

• Two-time All-Tidewater selection

• First-team All-Class 5

• Class 5 Region A Player of the Year

• Averaged 21.7 points, 12.4 rebounds and four blocks and recorded 20 double-doubles this season

Adrean Newton

Maury, 6-0 junior guard

• Two-time All-Tidewater selection

• First-team All-Class 5

• First-team All-Class 5 Region B

• First-team All-Eastern District

• Led the Commodores to the Class 5 state tournament. He scored a game-high 19 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, to help Maury beat King’s Fork in a region semifinal

Ulysses Young

Oscar Smith, 6-0 senior guard

• First-team All-Class 6

• Class 6 Region A Player of the Year

• Led the Tigers to the Class 6 state semifinals and made the game-winning shot in a quarterfinal

• Averaged 12.2 points, 6.1 assists and 3.5 steals to lead the Tigers to the Southeastern District title

Third team

Emmanuel Angila

Kempsville, 6-1 senior guard

• Led the Chiefs (20-6) to the program’s first state tournament appearance and best record in history.

• First-team All-Class 5

• First-team All-Class 5 Region A

• Averaged 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, including 21 points in a state quarterfinal

Daron Baugh

Hampton, 5-10 senior

• Led the Crabbers to the Class 4 state title

• First-team All-Class 4

• First-team All-Class 4 Region A

• First-team All-Peninsula District

• Averaged 11 points, four assists and two steals. Increased his assists average to seven in the postseason and scored 17 points in a state semifinal

Brandon Freeman

Bruton, 5-10 junior guard

• First-team All-Class 2

• First-team All-Class 2 Region A

• First-team All-Bay Rivers District

• Led the Panthers (19-8) to the state semifinals for the first time since 2014 and to the program’s first winning season since 2015

• Averaged 17 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals, while shooting 44% from 3-point range and 82% from the free-throw line

• He has scored more than 1,000 career points, with another season remaining

Tre Miller

Green Run, 6-5 junior forward

• First-team All-Class 5

• First-team All-Class 5 Region A

• Led the Stallions to the Class 5 Region A title and the state semifinals

• Averaged 18.7 points and 8.8 rebounds

Ashton Walker

Catholic, 6-4 junior guard

• First-team All-VISAA Division I

• First-team All-Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools

• Led the Crusaders to the VISAA Division I state semifinals

• Averaged 17.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals

• Has scored more than 1,000 career points, with another season remaining

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

The 6-foot-11 center was at times unstoppable and undefendable as he averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds during the postseason, including a 17-point, 14-rebound performance to help the Wolverines beat L.C. Bird to win their second consecutive Class 5 boys basketball state championship.

Barksdale is the 2024 All-Tidewater Boys Basketball Player of the Year and is the second consecutive Woodside player to win the award, following Trevor Smith. Barksdale and Smith are the only Peninsula-area players to win the award since The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press began selecting teams together in 2020.

“I believe he’s the All-Tidewater Player of the Year because of his consistency,” said Wolverines coach Stefan Welsh, who became the first in Hampton Roads to win back-to-back state titles as a player and coach. “His regular-season stats were from three quarters of action because 90% of the games were blowouts. He saw double- and triple-teams on a nightly basis. He elevated his play in the playoffs.”

His teammates agree: a state title would have been unlikely without Barksdale.

“He means a lot,” said senior Jermaine Detrick. “When he’s as efficient as he is, all the teams tend to focus on him. They’ll try everything. He’s very important. He’s got great size and great skill and he opens up everything for everybody else. It’s good to get to him early.”

Added Woodside’s Jakobe Reed: “Oh my God, he means everything. That’s my dawg. I love Barksdale. He works hard every day. He’s the first person in and the last person out of practice. So he means everything.”

Barksdale, who recorded 25 double-doubles, was named the Class 5 Player of the Year, the Class 5 Region B Player of the Year and the Peninsula District Player of the Year.

“He’s the best player on the best team all year, and he dominated in the playoffs,” said one opposing coach.

Another said, “He was a key piece to the success of a Woodside team that lost only once all season.”

Barksdale, a four-star prospect, is rated the No. 5 junior in the state by 247Sports and No. 7 by On3. He has more than 10 college scholarship offers, including those from Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh.

As dominating as he was this season, it makes you wonder what he’ll do for an encore next season.

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

Boys basketball All-Tidewater Players of the Year

Woodside center Silas Barksdale (21) attempts a shot over L.C. Bird defender Rahjeem Moore (12) during the Wolverines’ 53-33 victory for the VHSL Class 5 state championship at the Siegel Center in Richmond on March 9. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)2023 – Trevor Smith, Woodside

2022 – George Beale, King’s Fork

2021 – No POY named because of abbreviated season

2020 – Jayden Epps, King’s Fork

2019 – Michael Christmas, Landstown

2018 – Dereon Seabron, Lake Taylor

2017 – Kevin Davis, Norcom

2016 – Travis Fields, Norcom

2015 – Chris Clarke, Cape Henry

2014 – Troy Locke, Norcom

2013 – Marcus Evans, Great Bridge

2012 – Rashaun Madison, Norview

2011 – Dorian Finney-Smith, Norcom, and James Michael McAdoo, Norfolk Christian

2010 – Dorian Finney-Smith, Norcom

2009 – JaQuon Parker, King’s Fork

2008 – Corey Law, Deep Creek

2007 – Myles Holley, Booker T. Washington

2006 – Kelly Beidler, Tallwood

2005 – Vernon Macklin, Norcom

2004 – Marquie Cooke, Nansemond River

2003 – Marquie Cooke, Nansemond River

2002 – John Gilchrist, Salem

2001 – John Gilchrist, Salem

2000 – Hassan Robinson, Granby

1999 – David Johnson, Maury

1998 – Carlton Aaron, Atlantic Shores

1997 – David Selby, Indian River

1996 – Jason Capel, Indian River

1995 – Shawn Hobson, Granby

1994 – D.J. Dunbar, Churchland

1993 – Joe Smith, Maury

1992 – Michael Evans, Booker T. Washington

1991 – Petey Sessoms, Cradock

1990 – Darrell Paul, Deep Creek

1989 – Curley Young, Deep Creek

1988 – Alonzo Mourning, Indian River

1987 – Alonzo Mourning, Indian River

1986 – J.R. Reid, Kempsville

1985 – J.R. Reid, Kempsville

1984 – J.R. Reid, Kempsville

1983 – Mark Whitaker, Manor

1982 – Wes Stallings, Deep Creek

1981 –  Rolando Lamb, Cradock

1980 – Billy Walker, Booker T. Washington

All-Tidewater Girls Basketball Player of the Year

Micah Ojo

Princess Anne, 6-1 freshman forward

• Class 5 Player of the Year
• Class 5 Region A Player of the Year
• Had 31 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks to lead the Cavaliers (25-2) to a Virginia High School League-record 14th state title in the past 22 years
• Averaged 18.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.4 steals, 4.2 blocks and 3.6 assists
• Had 17 double-doubles, a triple-double and a quadruple-double
• Ranked as one of the top 25 freshmen in country by espnW
• Read more about Ojo

All-Tidewater Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Princess Anne’s Micah Ojo played like a veteran, not a freshman

Cyriah Griffin

Menchville, 5-7 senior guard

• Averaged an area-high 25.5 points and 8.6 assists along with 3.7 steals
• Led Menchville (22-4) to the Peninsula District title and a Class 5 state tournament berth
• First team All-Class 5
• Peninsula District Player of the Year
• Class 5 Region B Player of the Year
• Will play for VCU

Zaniyah Williams

Catholic, 5-9 sophomore guard

• Averaged 17.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 steals to help the Crusaders (26-7) reach the VISAA Division I state semifinals
• First-team VISAA Division I all-state
• First-team All-TCIS
• Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Tournament MVP
• Recently offered by West Virginia

Kaliya “KD” Perry

Hampton, 6-1 junior guard

• Averaged 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds to help the Crabbers (23-4) reach the Class 4 state final
• First-team All-Class 4
• Class 4 Region A Player of the Year
• First-team All-Peninsula District

Asia Keels

Deep Creek, 5-2 sophomore guard

• Averaged 13 points and 8 assists to help the Hornets (23-3) reach the Class 5 state semifinals
• Scored 23 points in a 49-47 win over Norview in the Class 5 state quarterfinals
• First-team All-Class 5
• First-team All-Class 5 Region A

Tinasia Spencer

Princess Anne, 5-8 senior guard

• Averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.7 assists to help Princess Anne repeat as Class 5 state champions and finish No. 1 in the 757Teamz Top 15
• First-team All-Class 5
• First-team All-Class 5 Region A
• Scored 20 points in a 62-50 win over Menchville in the Class 5 state quarterfinals, including three consecutive 3-pointers to help the Cavaliers pull away

Second team

Maddie Leach

Jamestown, 5-9 sophomore guard

• Averaged 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 5.9 steals to help the Eagles (22-2) finish 21-0 in the regular season
• Scored a career-high 37 points in the Eagles’ win over Warhill that sent them to the Class 4 state tournament
• First-team All-Class 4
• First-team All-Class 4 Region A
• Bay Rivers District Player of the Year

Olivia Bowes

Catholic, 6-0 senior guard

• Averaged 16.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 43% from 3-point range as the Crusaders reached the VISAA Division I state semifinals
• Scored 23 points, 11 in the first quarter, in the Crusaders’ 61-43 win over Norfolk Christian in the TCIS championship game
• All-TCIS first team and All-TCIS Tournament team
• Surpassed 1,000 career points this season
• Will play for Longwood

Leyla Minor

Norview, 5-10 junior guard

• Averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks to help the Pilots (19-6) tie for first in the Eastern District and reach the Class 5 state quarterfinals
• First-team All-Class 5
• First-team All-Class 5 Region B
• Eastern District Player of the Year

Abuna Ruop

Norfolk Christian, 6-8 sophomore center

• Averaged 13.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.5 blocks to help the Ambassadors (23-9) reach the VISAA Division II semifinals
• First-team All-State VISAA Division II
• First-team All-TCIS
• Had 10 blocks against Class 2 state finalist John Marshall

Dynasti Pierce

Lafayette, 5-11 junior forward

• Averaged 19.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.3 steals to lead the Rams (17-9) to the Class 3 Region A title
• Lafayette was 12-3 in the 15 games Pierce played
• First-team All-Class 3
• First-team All-Class 3 Region A
• First-team All-Bay Rivers District

Third team

Kate Spain

Kellam, 5-6 freshman guard

• Averaged 12.0 points, 4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals in helping the Knights (19-5) finish second in the Beach District
• Scored 16 points, while twin sister Mia Spain (11.6 ppg) scored 18, as the Knights narrowly missed a state tournament berth, falling 56-53 to Princess Anne in the Class 5 Region A semifinals
• First-team All-Class 5 Region A

Kobie Haggins

Manor, 5-9 senior forward

• Averaged 18.5 points and 10 rebounds as the Mustangs (20-4) tied Norview for the Eastern District championship
• First-team All-Class 4
• First-team All-Class 4 Region A
• First-team All-Eastern District
• Will play for Chowan

Tanaya Baxter

Lake Taylor, 6-0 senior forward

• Averaged 16 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks and 5 steals to help the Titans (17-7) reach the Class 3 state semifinals
• Had a double-double of 10 points and 18 rebounds in the Titans’ 56-49 win over Brentsville District in the Class 3 state quarterfinals
• First-team All-Class 3
• First-team All-Class 3 Region A

Jemma Eleby

Catholic, 6-1 junior forward

• Averaged 16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3.3 assists as the Crusaders were No. 2 to Princess Anne in the final 757Teamz Top 15
• VISAA Division I All-State
• First-team All-TCIS
• Surpassed 1,000 career points this season
• Has multiple Division I scholarship offers, including from George Mason and Radford

Taylor Ragland

Grafton, 5-10 sophomore forward

• Averaged 19.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 4.4 steals and 3 blocks as the Clippers (18-6) narrowly missed a Class 3 state tournament berth on Lake Taylor’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer
• First-team All-Class 3
• First-team All-Class 3 Region A
• First-team All-Bay Rivers District

Marty O’Brien, mjobrien@dailypress.com